KEY BISCAYNE: After years of watching trash build up in mangroves on the Florida Keys off his native Miami, Andrew Otazo began hauling out garbage to raise awareness about an ecosystem he has been enjoying since he was a teenager.
The public relations professional and self-described "amateur mangrove trash collector" has over the past five years removed over 10 tons (20,000 pounds) of waste from barrier islands including Key Biscayne and from the surrounding waters.
"As I got older and I learned more about the importance of the mangroves as a keystone ecosystem, I realized how much damage it was doing to local wildlife," said Otazo, 35, in an interview in Key Biscayne, where he now lives.
On a walk through the Bear Cut Preserve in Key Biscayne's Crandon Park on Wednesday, Otazo collected debris from what was once a makeshift camp used by a fugitive hiding from the law.
He hauled away trash ranging from a small Cuban flag to a camping chair.
Otazo acknowledges that stomping through mangroves and carrying bags of fetid trash on his back is not a long term solution to the problem - but says his work has gotten the attention of Miami residents and local politicians.
The trash primarily comes from litter thrown onto streets in the Miami area that washes into storm drains and ends up floating into Biscayne Bay, says Otazo.
Local authorities would need to install trash-trap systems on storm drains to prevent it from washing up into the mangroves in the first place.
"Hopefully at some point policy makers will fix this problem," he said. "I'll be out here until I'm physically incapable of doing this."
An endurance athlete and open ocean swimmer, Otazo once completed a marathon while carrying 35 pounds of trash strapped to a backpack to raise awareness of the problem. He has also collected trash while free diving.
The debris on the barrier islands runs the gamut from syringes and used diapers to furniture and mirrors.
"I've found enough car parts to build my own F-150 if I wanted to," Otazo said, referring to a popular model of Ford pick-up trucks. "You name it. If humanity makes it, I have found it in the mangroves."
Reuters
Fri Jul 15 2022
Andrew Otazo, who calls himself an amateur mangrove cleaner, picks up waste from the shore as he removes trash from the mangroves at Crandon Park in Miami, Florida, U.S. July 13, 2022. - REUTERS
MOM bakal hantar resolusi rayu kerajaan teruskan penganjuran Sukan SEA 2027
MOM akan menghantar resolusi kepada Kementerian Belia dan Sukan untuk merayu agar Malaysia kekal menjadi penganjur Sukan SEA 2027.
AWANI Borneo [29/04/2024] – Perkukuh sektor perhutanan | Calon ADUN Tanjung Batu | Piala Borneo bakal kembali
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas dari Borneo bersama Nickyson Nyambar
#AWANIBorneo 29 April 2024
Sarawak perkukuh kerjasama dengan Sweden, sektor perhutanan tumpuan utama
Calon ADUN Tanjung Batu, Bung Moktar kekal dengan pendirian, Andi reda tapi tunggu bubar dulu
Fazzrudin sambut baik usaha tubuhkan Gagasan Bola Sepak Borneo
#AWANInews
#AWANIBorneo 29 April 2024
Sarawak perkukuh kerjasama dengan Sweden, sektor perhutanan tumpuan utama
Calon ADUN Tanjung Batu, Bung Moktar kekal dengan pendirian, Andi reda tapi tunggu bubar dulu
Fazzrudin sambut baik usaha tubuhkan Gagasan Bola Sepak Borneo
#AWANInews
Vokalis Dewa 19, Virzha kahwin wanita Arab
Salah seorang vokalis Dewa 19, Virzha mengakhiri zaman bujang pada usia 33 tahun.
Blok Negara Islam Sedang ‘Stress’? Langsung Dialog 4 Menteri Luar
Situasi meruncing di Gaza, konflik Iran-Israel dan ditambah pula persaingan kuat dua kuasa, Amerika Syarikat dan China dilihat terus membayangi percaturan geopolitik dan geoekonomi negara-negara Islam di Asia Barat. Menteri Luar Turkiye dan Arab Saudi antara yang tampil duduk sepentas
membincangkan apa lagi yang bakal jadi nanti.
#SpecialMeeting24
membincangkan apa lagi yang bakal jadi nanti.
#SpecialMeeting24
Krisis iklim: Kanak-kanak antara paling terjejas - UNICEF
Apabila bencana alam berlaku, kanak-kanak lebih terdedah dan berpotensi mengalami kesan yang berpanjangan.
Raja Permaisuri Agong terima menghadap Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British ke Malaysia
Raja Permaisuri Agong Raja Zarith Sofiah hari ini berkenan menerima menghadap Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British ke Malaysia Ailsa Terry di Istana Negara.
Masyarakat Cina bersama meriahkan rumah terbuka UMNO Sandakan
Masyarakat Cina di sekitar Sandakan bwersama memeriahkan dan menikmati juadah di rumah terbuka Aidilfitri anjujran UMNO Sandakan.
Gagasan Bola Sepak Borneo bantu tingfkatkan kualiti pemain Sarawak
Presiden Kuching FA Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman menyambut baik uaha menubuhkan Gagasan Bola Sepak Borneo yang diyakini mampu menggilap kualiti bola sepak di pulau itu.
Terserah Bung Moktar, yang penting khidmat untuk rakyat dulu - Andi
ADUN Tanjung Batu, Datuk Andi Muhamad Suryady Bandy menyerahkan kepada Datuk Seri Bung Moktar untuk memastikan kemenangan UMN O dalan PRN 17 namun pada masa sama berharap perkara mengenai calon dibincang selepas DUN Sabah dibubar.
PRN 17: Pimpinan UMNO Sabah berhak nilai calon terbaik
Ketua Perhubungan UMNO Sabah Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin menegaskan pihaknya bertanggungjawab menetukan calon terbaik untuk mewakili parti itu dalam PRN Sabah ke-17.
"Tolong kami, bantu kami!" 33 hari terdampar di pulau tidak berpenghuni
Tiga warga Cuba terdampar di sebuah pulau yang tidak berpenghuni di Bahamas selama 33 hari berjaya diselamatkan.